The National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association today signed a Memorandum of Understanding reflecting the terms of a new, 10-year Collective Bargaining Agreement. Team training camps will open on Sunday, and a 720-game regular-season schedule (48 games per team) will begin on Saturday, January 19.

The league has officially released the 48-game schedule. Here is the full slate for when the puck drops on January 19.

Will Tim Thomas Return to the NHL?

Yes, Tim Thomas will probably return to the NHL at some point. But according to NHL.com, it won't be this season:

Goaltender Tim Thomas still intends to sit out this season, but Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said Sunday that the two-time Vezina Trophy winner told him he wants to play in 2013-14.

Chiarelli confirmed during a Sunday morning press conference at the opening of training camp that Thomas won’t attend camp or play this season, but said the 38-year-old goaltender wants to come back for next season.

As that article notes, the Bruins won't have to pay Thomas his salary, though he will still represent a $5 million cap hit for the team. Chiarelli also said he would suspend Thomas but the player would remain on the team's cap, unless he traded him.

This is a fairly bizarre situation, honestly. Then again, Thomas has always marched to the beat of his own drummer.

Hurricanes Sign Goalie Dan Ellis

The Canes announced Sunday they have signed goaltender Dan Ellis on a one-year contract that will pay him a prorated $650,000 for the 2012-13 season.

“Dan is an experienced netminder who has had good years in the NHL, and played well for Charlotte this season,” general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. “We feel it is important to have a veteran goalie to partner with Cam (Ward) during the compressed season.”

Jochen Hecht Signs One-Year Deal with Sabres

The longest-tenured member of the Buffalo Sabres, Jochen Hecht, will be staying with the club for at least one more season.

As reported at Sabres.com, "Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier today announced that center Jochen Hecht has agreed to terms on a one-year contract."

As that story notes, "Hecht ranks 20th in franchise history in games played, goals and points" and "leads all active Sabres with a career plus/minus rating of plus-94, ranking him 23rd among all active NHL players."

Very quietly, Hecht has put together a solid career. For at least one more season, he'll continue putting on the Sabres sweater.

This is the safest route for teams to take with players they’re looking to use one of their compliance buyouts on as injured players aren’t allowed to be bought out. The downside is his $7.357 million cap hit sits on the books no matter what this season.

Apparently, the Habs weren't getting any takers on the trade market and decided to, quite literally, cut their losses this summer. After just 21 goals in three seasons during his stay in Montreal, I hardly doubt fans will miss Gomez this season.

The Hurricanes land a scrappy enforcer in Westgarth, while the Kings get a promising young player in Stewart, turning some heads with 39 points two years ago with the Atlanta Thrashers before regressing slightly last year, finishing with just 20 points.

This will be Boucher’s fourth time with the Flyers during his career in the NHL, and his presence in the locker room and on the bench is a comforting thought; this isn’t a veteran that gets rattled easily.

Flyers Add Defensive Depth with Kurtis Foster

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The Philadelphia Flyers have been decimated by injuries to their defensive group already—veteran Chris Pronger continues to deal with post-concussion symptoms and Andrej Meszaros is returning from an Achilles injury—and it was clear a move had to be made.

Rangers Lock Up Michael Del Zotto

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With plenty of offensive power coming from the New York Rangers this season—star forward Rick Nash’s offseason arrival will signal a change in the tempo the team plays with—the organization had to make a serious effort to keep the defensive unit intact.

The Rangers have an agreement in place to re-sign veteran Michael Del Zotto to a deal (h/t Bob McKenzie) that will keep him patrolling the blue line in New York City as the team transfers into an offense-first mindset:

Michael Del Zotto has agreed to tentative terms with NYR and is expected in camp today tho aspects of contract are still being worked on.

New York needs to ensure they have all the consistent defenders they can find because, with an all-out offensive assault like the one the Rangers will use this season, there will times when Del Zotto must save the team using his defensive prowess.

New Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said Monday his goal was to have Subban signed and on the ice when training camp opened.

There was talk in Montreal on Tuesday the Subban camp could be looking for a deal similar to that signed by Los Angeles Kings defenceman Drew Doughty, who landed an eight-year deal worth $56 million. That sounds like a pretty lofty demand.

The defenseman scored seven goals and recorded 29 assists last season.

Subban's ongoing contract situation will be something to watch in the coming days.

In a text message, O'Reilly's agent Mark Guy said: "All that I can say at this time is that we are having ongoing discussions."

Chambers also spoke with defenseman Shane O'Brien:

"Obviously he's a big part of our team here, just how he works on the ice, how hard he works off the ice, the way he plays every night, and there's not one guy in this room that wouldn't say he doesn't love Ryan O'Reilly," O'Brien said after Thursday's two-hour practice.

"Unfortunately, it's the contract side of the game that every fan just went through with the lockout. It's the ugly side of the game. But I know "Factor" wants to be here more than anybody and as far as I know they are talking and trying to get something done."

For now, Bob McKenzie of TSN speculated on Twitter as to how the Avalanche will move on without O'Reilly:

In the absence of Ryan O'Reilly, I suspect we'll see Matt Duchene between Gabriel Landeskog and P-A Parenteau.

Roberto Luongo Ready to Move or Stay in Vancouver

Roberto Luongo's star has fallen quite far in Vancouver. Once one of the best goaltenders in the NHL, it appears his time with the Canucks is drawing to a close.

ESPN published an Associated Press report about the stage where a possible trade involving Luongo stands:

Luongo was displaced as Vancouver's No. 1 netminder by Cory Schneider in last year's playoffs. After the season, Luongo said he would waive his no-trade clause if asked, but general manager Mike Gillis couldn't swing a deal before the 113-day NHL lockout began in September.

"I told (Gillis) I was ready to go as long as it took," Luongo said. "Whether it's a couple days, next week, two weeks, at the end of the season, it's totally fine with me."

Luongo long has been rumored to be headed to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Trades are prohibited until players have ratified the proposed new collective bargaining agreement, which is expected to happen on Saturday. Training camps would then likely open on Sunday.

With the lockout lifted, the Canucks are officially free to discuss the terms of a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs or any other NHL team.